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Population in Italy compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Italy was 58,915,656 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Italy's population is 58,708,169 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.12 times bigger than Italy's.
  • Italy is ranked the 26th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.5% of the world: 0.71% for Italy vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Italy has had an average growth rate of -0.21% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Italy has increased from 58.4M people to 58.7M (0.53% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Italy vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Italy
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Italy South Africa
2100 35,295,729 94,734,082
2099 35,533,045 94,523,360
2098 35,764,971 94,316,049
2097 36,003,567 94,125,043
2096 36,240,310 93,927,246
2095 36,477,183 93,719,451
2094 36,710,370 93,494,697
2093 36,941,728 93,267,274
2092 37,181,889 93,041,793
2091 37,416,123 92,793,249
2090 37,654,289 92,561,159
2089 37,896,069 92,322,396
2088 38,134,560 92,080,212
2087 38,375,540 91,833,409
2086 38,612,968 91,581,639
2085 38,857,421 91,352,906
2084 39,105,783 91,106,961
2083 39,352,795 90,845,161
2082 39,608,119 90,583,188
2081 39,866,527 90,313,417
2080 40,130,426 90,039,857
2079 40,403,049 89,770,116
2078 40,680,460 89,494,440
2077 40,962,463 89,217,520
2076 41,254,005 88,954,522
2075 41,558,635 88,681,719
2074 41,883,296 88,397,221
2073 42,216,283 88,118,589
2072 42,564,739 87,835,051
2071 42,921,274 87,509,098
2070 43,295,245 87,178,463
2069 43,679,714 86,870,660
2068 44,073,736 86,558,000
2067 44,471,480 86,237,764
2066 44,883,154 85,904,801
2065 45,309,461 85,573,984
2064 45,741,985 85,214,686
2063 46,180,658 84,845,370
2062 46,633,125 84,473,236
2061 47,088,290 84,103,016
2060 47,542,648 83,719,266
2059 47,998,659 83,325,330
2058 48,452,892 82,918,226
2057 48,899,246 82,508,742
2056 49,344,799 82,098,320
2055 49,776,680 81,669,191
2054 50,197,999 81,227,019
2053 50,613,632 80,789,939
2052 51,012,772 80,338,877
2051 51,404,003 79,858,310
2050 51,791,523 79,383,784
2049 52,164,254 78,897,472
2048 52,522,170 78,409,829
2047 52,876,346 77,894,547
2046 53,212,697 77,369,819
2045 53,541,344 76,852,544
2044 53,856,790 76,330,046
2043 54,176,580 75,800,788
2042 54,477,632 75,264,885
2041 54,765,213 74,721,871
2040 55,052,803 74,179,185
2039 55,342,225 73,636,894
2038 55,619,470 73,079,976
2037 55,895,913 72,506,991
2036 56,164,408 71,930,701
2035 56,435,468 71,337,219
2034 56,703,168 70,737,692
2033 56,963,528 70,128,299
2032 57,220,334 69,502,726
2031 57,487,786 68,865,544
2030 57,749,232 68,221,143
2029 57,994,812 67,549,189
2028 58,236,078 66,860,631
2027 58,477,957 66,166,759
2026 58,708,169 65,473,024
2025 58,915,656 64,747,319
2024 58,952,704 64,007,187
2023 58,984,216 63,212,384
2022 59,013,667 62,378,410
2021 59,133,173 61,502,603
2020 59,438,851 60,562,381
2019 59,729,081 59,587,885
2018 59,877,221 58,613,001
2017 60,002,252 57,635,162
2016 60,115,223 57,259,551
2015 60,229,605 56,723,537
2014 60,320,707 55,594,838
2013 60,311,613 54,678,791
2012 60,191,247 53,782,567
2011 60,026,841 52,995,205
2010 59,819,407 52,344,051
2009 59,555,454 51,728,516
2008 59,211,181 51,114,599
2007 58,756,247 50,528,584
2006 58,399,861 49,998,277
2005 58,166,682 49,490,033
2004 57,828,179 48,991,421
2003 57,399,184 48,500,348
2002 57,089,824 48,019,415
2001 56,976,981 47,566,800
2000 56,942,108 47,159,719
1999 56,916,317 46,730,335
1998 56,906,744 46,223,880
1997 56,890,372 45,666,838
1996 56,860,281 45,123,018
1995 56,844,303 44,541,554
1994 56,843,400 44,004,139
1993 56,831,821 43,297,156
1992 56,797,087 42,443,509
1991 56,758,521 41,687,898
1990 56,719,240 40,746,268
1989 56,671,781 39,628,575
1988 56,629,288 38,480,649
1987 56,601,931 37,326,190
1986 56,596,155 36,180,515
1985 56,593,071 35,042,093
1984 56,576,718 33,892,788
1983 56,564,074 32,739,304
1982 56,543,548 31,615,339
1981 56,501,675 30,541,044
1980 56,433,883 29,518,857
1979 56,317,749 28,634,162
1978 56,155,143 27,869,507
1977 55,955,411 27,118,952
1976 55,718,260 26,395,450
1975 55,441,001 25,690,940
1974 55,110,868 24,989,108
1973 54,751,406 24,294,263
1972 54,381,345 23,609,456
1971 54,073,490 22,942,143
1970 53,821,850 22,279,984
1969 53,537,950 21,614,676
1968 53,235,750 20,957,287
1967 52,900,500 20,314,066
1966 52,519,000 19,690,087
1965 52,112,350 19,089,380
1964 51,675,350 18,511,361
1963 51,252,000 17,954,564
1962 50,879,450 17,418,522
1961 50,536,350 16,908,035
1960 50,199,700 16,440,172

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/italy/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Italy increased by 1,715,362 people (a 2.94% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Italy lost 1,407,054 people (a 2.34% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Italy was ranked 23rd most populous country in 2006 and is 26th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Italy's population will shrink by 11.8% to 51,791,523 people with a rank change from 26th to 40th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M people, while Italy's population already peaked in 2014 at 60.3M people and is projected to decrease to 35.3M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Italy
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Italy South Africa
2100 -0.67% 0.22%
2099 -0.65% 0.22%
2098 -0.66% 0.2%
2097 -0.65% 0.21%
2096 -0.65% 0.22%
2095 -0.64% 0.24%
2094 -0.63% 0.24%
2093 -0.65% 0.24%
2092 -0.63% 0.27%
2091 -0.63% 0.25%
2090 -0.64% 0.26%
2089 -0.63% 0.26%
2088 -0.63% 0.27%
2087 -0.61% 0.27%
2086 -0.63% 0.25%
2085 -0.64% 0.27%
2084 -0.63% 0.29%
2083 -0.64% 0.29%
2082 -0.65% 0.3%
2081 -0.66% 0.3%
2080 -0.67% 0.3%
2079 -0.68% 0.31%
2078 -0.69% 0.31%
2077 -0.71% 0.3%
2076 -0.73% 0.31%
2075 -0.78% 0.32%
2074 -0.79% 0.32%
2073 -0.82% 0.32%
2072 -0.83% 0.37%
2071 -0.86% 0.38%
2070 -0.88% 0.35%
2069 -0.89% 0.36%
2068 -0.89% 0.37%
2067 -0.92% 0.39%
2066 -0.94% 0.39%
2065 -0.95% 0.42%
2064 -0.95% 0.44%
2063 -0.97% 0.44%
2062 -0.97% 0.44%
2061 -0.96% 0.46%
2060 -0.95% 0.47%
2059 -0.94% 0.49%
2058 -0.91% 0.5%
2057 -0.9% 0.5%
2056 -0.87% 0.53%
2055 -0.84% 0.54%
2054 -0.82% 0.54%
2053 -0.78% 0.56%
2052 -0.76% 0.6%
2051 -0.75% 0.6%
2050 -0.71% 0.62%
2049 -0.68% 0.62%
2048 -0.67% 0.66%
2047 -0.63% 0.68%
2046 -0.61% 0.67%
2045 -0.59% 0.68%
2044 -0.59% 0.7%
2043 -0.55% 0.71%
2042 -0.53% 0.73%
2041 -0.52% 0.73%
2040 -0.52% 0.74%
2039 -0.5% 0.76%
2038 -0.49% 0.79%
2037 -0.48% 0.8%
2036 -0.48% 0.83%
2035 -0.47% 0.85%
2034 -0.46% 0.87%
2033 -0.45% 0.9%
2032 -0.47% 0.93%
2031 -0.45% 0.94%
2030 -0.42% 0.99%
2029 -0.41% 1.03%
2028 -0.41% 1.05%
2027 -0.39% 1.06%
2026 -0.35% 1.12%
2025 -0.06% 1.16%
2024 -0.05% 1.26%
2023 -0.05% 1.34%
2022 -0.2% 1.42%
2021 -0.51% 1.55%
2020 -0.49% 1.64%
2019 -0.25% 1.66%
2018 -0.21% 1.7%
2017 -0.19% 0.66%
2016 -0.19% 0.94%
2015 -0.15% 2.03%
2014 0.02% 1.68%
2013 0.2% 1.67%
2012 0.27% 1.49%
2011 0.35% 1.24%
2010 0.44% 1.19%
2009 0.58% 1.2%
2008 0.77% 1.16%
2007 0.61% 1.06%
2006 0.4% 1.03%
2005 0.59% 1.02%
2004 0.75% 1.01%
2003 0.54% 1%
2002 0.2% 0.95%
2001 0.06% 0.86%
2000 0.05% 0.92%
1999 0.02% 1.1%
1998 0.03% 1.22%
1997 0.05% 1.21%
1996 0.03% 1.31%
1995 0.002% 1.22%
1994 0.02% 1.63%
1993 0.06% 2.01%
1992 0.07% 1.81%
1991 0.07% 2.31%
1990 0.08% 2.82%
1989 0.08% 2.98%
1988 0.05% 3.09%
1987 0.01% 3.17%
1986 0.005% 3.25%
1985 0.03% 3.39%
1984 0.02% 3.52%
1983 0.04% 3.56%
1982 0.07% 3.52%
1981 0.12% 3.46%
1980 0.21% 3.09%
1979 0.29% 2.74%
1978 0.36% 2.77%
1977 0.43% 2.74%
1976 0.5% 2.74%
1975 0.6% 2.81%
1974 0.66% 2.86%
1973 0.68% 2.9%
1972 0.57% 2.91%
1971 0.47% 2.97%
1970 0.53% 3.08%
1969 0.57% 3.14%
1968 0.63% 3.17%
1967 0.73% 3.17%
1966 0.78% 3.15%
1965 0.85% 3.12%
1964 0.83% 3.1%
1963 0.73% 3.08%
1962 0.68% 3.02%
1961 0.67% 2.85%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/italy/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Italy declined by 0.06%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Italy South Africa
Current population
58708169
65829368
Population rank 26/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.79%
One net population change
14.2 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
1.42 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
48.6 seconds
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline -102 +2,028
Annual growth/decline -37,048 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate -0.06% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 162/197 91/197
One migration net change every
6.99 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +75,448 +146,370
Net migration rank 19/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 6,553,671 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 12/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 11% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 59/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Italy
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Italy South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 75,448 - 146,370
2024 -277,077 95,246 591,618 166,972
2023 -294,922 150,189 602,793 228,222
2022 -318,674 231,228 603,636 233,284
2021 -301,579 157,327 456,411 458,246
2020 -338,801 85,281 595,873 369,901
2019 -215,025 46,634 652,130 331,124
2018 -197,595 83,686 648,319 318,260
2017 -192,007 95,147 645,975 343,146
2016 -138,265 84,568 641,365 -879,235
2015 -162,620 39,389 668,771 641,150
2014 -96,513 52,679 674,754 272,697
2013 -90,468 158,090 652,427 232,230
2012 -78,248 252,524 643,723 264,091
2011 -48,021 198,544 601,708 65,166
2010 -23,928 274,387 566,834 68,563
2009 -17,866 283,676 554,115 41,528
2008 -11,842 422,534 595,332 36,869
2007 -5,876 495,092 503,567 36,339
2006 0 215,995 487,584 33,159
2005 -17,450 258,702 464,464 31,286
2004 11,566 417,970 442,540 58,924
2003 -40,179 478,578 415,018 65,604
2002 -22,836 223,861 430,926 50,313
2001 -11,396 48,903 484,801 -60,793
2000 -17,082 56,065 526,963 -136,794
1999 -22,766 54,405 594,643 -126,011
1998 -39,835 67,985 627,027 -82,722
1997 -22,756 50,539 667,969 -98,181
1996 -22,744 53,450 710,868 -193,007
1995 -34,107 -460,287 743,488 -98,403
1994 -17,053 502,750 698,609 -268,849
1993 0 24,321 789,220 194,977
1992 22,718 51,747 794,415 -71,342
1991 11,352 19,721 827,296 -39,131
1990 22,688 35,317 835,421 259,718
1989 28,336 19,540 884,629 255,605
1988 33,977 18,553 909,221 246,382
1987 16,980 7,825 922,330 231,009
1986 11,319 -6,206 903,644 234,378
1985 28,297 6,911 893,889 244,940
1984 50,919 203 869,011 290,789
1983 33,939 -3,733 837,013 310,172
1982 79,161 -24,223 807,550 293,195
1981 73,452 7,182 767,833 279,985
1980 84,650 295,642 738,415 258,127
1979 129,531 42,637 716,541 56,323
1978 168,465 43,932 694,341 62,121
1977 190,248 42,246 680,929 63,739
1976 228,445 40,885 675,011 27,333
1975 271,660 43,051 667,862 38,809
1974 336,176 42,487 658,438 38,518
1973 328,508 41,631 651,596 41,125
1972 364,355 43,182 638,754 38,163
1971 383,922 -58,627 624,761 32,961
1970 376,753 -62,216 605,102 61,514
1969 390,827 -45,346 590,794 73,225
1968 399,268 -50,149 571,841 78,932
1967 439,074 -37,992 553,741 81,932
1966 488,427 -35,352 534,862 77,417
1965 474,222 -36,267 506,632 82,514
1964 527,089 -27,368 490,606 76,298
1963 440,767 -28,198 473,821 72,844
1962 427,387 -25,840 455,634 69,771
1961 459,880 -129,761 437,851 57,728
1960 426,697 -140,765 421,263 18,891

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/italy/south-africa | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 69.5% of the population change in Italy is from natural causes (a loss of 2,436,565 people) and 30.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,068,695 people). In South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).

As of 2024, 6,553,671 residents or 11% of the population were not native-born in Italy, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Italy
City Population
Rome 2.75M
Milan 1.35M
Naples 913K
Turin 842K
Palermo 630K
Genoa 559K
Bologna 388K
Florence 361K
Bari 315K
Catania 312K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/italy/south-africa | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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